When people like a business for its products and services, they keep coming back. Maybe they even tell their friends to go, too.
It's only when people absolutely love a business for how it treats them and the way that it stands out that they start nominating it for awards, like the Gazette's Readers' Choice Awards.
Eyeland Optometry has made a triumphant return as St. Albert's Favourite Optical Store after its first win in the category in 2018. The praise is more than enough to put a twinkle in optometrist Dr. Peter Roed's eye.
"I think it's really nice ... simply because we don't ask for it. We don't tell people to give us reviews; we don't do anything. It just happens naturally, maybe. It makes us feel like we're at least doing something right," he said.
There is obviously a lot that Roed and his modest but well-qualified team do right. When you go to other places, you might find yourself feeling like just another person in the line. At Eyeland, it's not about success through seeing the most number of patients in a day.
Roed says his goal is to try and spend as much time as he can with each person. He wants them all to have the best experience possible when they walk through the doors at their 161 Liberton Drive location.
The secret, he explained, is something he learned from his optometrical education.
"After doing it for over 20 years now, I find the more I enjoy my day, the more I have good social interactions, the better results we get for both them and for me. If I'm enjoying it, they can see that, and then that comes across in better care, more time," he said, continuing.
"I always remember when I was going through school ... it was really simple. Studying the first 30 seconds, making eye contact with the person and asking what concerns they had, versus turning your back and just saying, 'OK, let's get on with this process,' is such a simple and small thing to do. But it immediately sends a message that you're there to take care of them. It's one of those things that I see isn't always done perfectly well. Spending more time: you think that would be counterintuitive for a business model. Well, that actually works out better because then they want to support you and stay with you and things like that. It's sort of the long game versus the short game."
Sure, there are other major factors that go into Eyeland's success, such as how the frames are organized on the walls or the up-to-date equipment or the fact that you can still see the staff smiling through their masks. You could easily make a pun about how Eyeland is an 'island oasis' because it's a beautiful spot and everyone is happy.
Roed is happy too, and he'd love to see you come through the door and experience it for yourself. If you need an eye exam, visit the website at eyelandoptometry.ca or call 780-460-9673 to book your appointment.
